Plastic container for bulbous plants

ABSTRACT

A plastic container for bulbous plants is disclosed comprising an opaque pot for the bulb and the surrounding earth, a resilient coupling rosette that acts as a lid for the pot and retains the bulb and the earth in the pot at any moment and a transparent cover mounted or mountable over the pot and - if mounted coupled to the rosette and thus directly to the pot. The coupling rosette preferably has a central part provided with a growing aperture. The transparent cover both acts as a protection of the green parts of the bulbous plant during transport and as a hot house after delivery at the customer. In a preferred embodiment the couplings between both the pot and the rosette and between the rosette and the cover are rotationally symmetrical in order to be mechanically achievable. The container is also useful without cover.

United States Patent Van Reisen [541 PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR BULBOUS IPLANTS [72] Inventor: George Leonardus Johannes Van Reisen, Sassenheim,N etherlands [73] Assignee: George Van Zonneveld, Loosterweg,

Voorhout, Netherlands [22] Filed: April 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 30,426

[52] US. Cl. ..7/34.11,'220/60 R, 206/46 PL [51] Int. Cl. ..A01g 9/02[58] Field of Search ..47/34.1 1, 34, 37, DIG. 7; 220/60 R [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,307,602 3/ 1967 Boster ..220/60R 3,314,194 4/1967 Halleck ..47/34.l1 3,392,873 7/1968 Old ..'..220/60 R3,419,181 12/1968 Stec ..220/60 R 3,531,013 9/1970 Hammes ..220/60 R2,930,162 3/1960 Mulford ..47/37 2,632,286 3/1953 Newhall ..47/34.11 X1,959,510 5/1934 Van Waveren ..47/34.l1 2,828,789 4/1958 Groendyk et a1...47/37 UX- Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill Attorney-Woodhams,Blanchard and Flynn [5 7] ABSTRACT Y A plastic container for bulbousplants is disclosed comprising an opaque pot for the bulb and thesurrounding earth, a resilient coupling rosette that acts as a lid forthe pot and retains the bulb and the earth in the pot at any moment anda transparent cover mounted or mountable over the pot and if mountedcoupled to the rosette and thus directly to the pot.

The coupling rosette preferably has a central part provided with agrowing aperture.

I The transparent cover both acts as a protection of the green parts ofthe bulbous plant during transport an as a hot house after delivery atthe customer.

In a preferred embodiment the couplings between both the pot and therosette and between the rosette and the cover are rotationallysymmetrical in order to be mechanically achievable.

The container is also useful without cover.

, 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEE 6 m2 $704,545.

SHEET 2 0F 4 INVENTOR GEORGE LEOMQBDUS MUM/6S WKf/SEN ATTORN PATENTEDUEE 51912 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR JOIMM'ES VAN KEIStW ATTORzE 8 GW(ECW921115 BY W41;

PATE'N'TED 5M2 3.704545 sum n 0F 4 INVENTOR ems AEONHADUS JOHA/WESWEE/SEN ATTO PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR BULBOUS PLANTS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention relates to a preferably rotationally symmetricalplastic container for bulbous plants comprising a pot and a transparentrigid cover. There is a market for a rigid packing of the aforementionedtype which meets the following requirements:

the packing should in the first place enclose the sometimes alreadyslightly sprouted bulbous plant to protect it against shock and impact;the packing should during transport ensure that the bulb and the earthclinging thereto are retained and do not fall from the pot into therigid cover;

the rigid cover should effectively but detachably be secured to the pot;

the packing should also be useful for the buyer;

the packing should be capable of being assembled in the nursery withouttouching the bulbous plant by the hands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at theprovision of such a container, which container is characterized in thata flexible coupling member is provided which couples the pot and thecover and which is essentially more flexible than the cover and the potand adapts itself thereto during the coupling.

Such a coupling member is advantageous in that the cover can bepositively safely placed on the pot and retained thereon due to theelasticity of the member, even when a filled packing in the'shape of acontainer with earth and bulbous plant is lifted by the cover. This isnot possible with a combination of a rigid plastic'pot and a rigidtransparent cover, since the required reproducible tolerance cannot beachieved in practice.

The use of the elastic coupling member allows deviations of thedimensions of cover and/or pot, because the member adapts itself to thedimensions of the rims at the open ends of the cover and the pot.

Preferably the coupling member is a spatially profiled andefficientlycurved connecting rosette with acentral opening allowing the growth ofthe plant.

Such an annular rosette is distinguished in that the central openingensures that the part of the assembly consisting of the pot togetherwith the associated annu-' lar rosette remains useful for the buyer. Thegreen parts of the bulbous plant can grow through the central openingand the bulb is retained in the pot when possibly the plant becomes topheavy. Moreover the earth remains covered in the pot.

It is evident that the transparent cover can also be used as a small hothouse, for which purpose the cover at the upper side is preferablyprovided with a number of de-aeration apertures. The pot may at theunderside be provided with legs and/or apertures.

The invention relates also to a plastic pot with coupling member,wherein the transparent cover is secured on the pot and only loosenedtherefrom by a radial deformation, so that the growing plant cannotpress the rosette from the pot.

The lower rim of the rigid cover can be disposed and fixed in theannulus between the outer rim of the rosette and the standing lips ofthe pot. The elasticity of the rosette ensures a positive fixation ofthe lower rim of the cover.

It is also possible to construct a container or pot of theaforementioned type in such a way that the pot has vertical ridges nearthe upper edge that the coupling ringhas on either side of the flatcentral plate withcentral opening a rim edge that the lower rim edgehas'at its lower end an inwardly directed annular'protrusion, which rimedge has a height as measured unto this annular protrusion equal to theheight of the vertical ridges, and that the upper rim edge has in theproximity of its upper end a continuous or discontinuous annularprotrusion which is capable of cooperation with the cover.

This embodiment is advantageous in that "the coupling is rotationallysymmetrical and can be mechanically achieved since no specialpositioning of the pot and the coupling member with respect to eachother is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWING FIG. 1 shows a perspective view-of a potcarrying a rosette and of a detached cover according to an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a-perspective view of the pot according to FIG. 1, the rosettebeing detached from the pot;

FIGS. 3 to 7 show in outline cross sections through the area of thecoupling between the pot, the cover and the coupling member according toa number of embodiments of the invention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a perspective view and a fragmentary section ofanother embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is depicted acontainer for a bulbous plant,e.g. a hyacinth, consisting of a transparent cupshaped plastic cover 1(with enforced lower rim 2) and an opaque rigid plastic pot 3. Parts ofthe upper rim of the pot are recessed so that the standing lips 4remain. As appears from FIG. 2 the rim of the pot 3 has a steppedconstruction as seen in vertical cross section. The container accordingto FIG. 1 comprises further a coupling member 5, consisting of flexiblematerial, preferably plastic material. In the depicted embodiment themember 5 consists of a rosette the central part 6 of which is bulged andprovided with a central aperture. 7. This aperture 7 constitutes theopening allowing the growth of the green portion of the bulbous plant.The rosette 5 has a rimlike edge 8 and is provided with slits 9. Theslits 9 and the lips 4 areconstructed in such a way that they can engageeach other, the describing circle of the outer edge of the slits havinga slightly smaller diameter than the describing circle of the outer edgeof the standing lips 4. Due to a minor deformation of the lips 4 and/orof the rosette 5 the lips 4 fit into the slits 9 and snap thereupon bytheir stepped upper ends 4' over the outer edges of the slits 9. Theinner and outer diameter of the enforced rim 2 of the cover 1 are in usethe pot 3 with the rosette can be applied in assembled condition in thenursery. In that case the pot is filled with earth and a bulb is plantedin the earth directly under the central opening 7. Water can be suppliedthrough the slits 9, while' 'the excess water can flow off e.g. throughthe discharge holes 10. Preferably the pot is to that end provided withlegs or other protrusions 11, so that when the pot is in the uprightposition the apertures are not obstructed.

As soon as the bulbous plants, like hyacinths, have been thriven andshould be delivered the packing is completed by pressing the cover 1 onthe pot. Such a simple packing operation is the more so of interest,since the delivery period, in which millions of pots should bedispatched, is very short, so that a saving in time on packing is veryimportant. Notwithstanding this time saving way of packing the deliveredproduct is very well protected and the buyer can even use the cover 1 asa hot house. The'buyer canafterwards also use the pot 3 with rosette 5for other purposes (like propagating other plants by cuttings). As soonas the green portion of the bulbous or tuberous plant has reached thetop of the cover 1 the latter can be detached.

FIG. 2 shows distinctly the construction of the elastical flexibleplastic rosette 5 which is disposed on the pot 3 (which can be made ofhard plastic);

A number of variants are possible within the scope of the invention forthe coupling of the pot 3 and the coupling member 5 on the. one hand andof the coupling member 5 and the cover 1 on the other hand.

In FIG. 3 a container according to FIG. 1 and 2 is represented oncemore, but this time a cross section thereof according to the lineIII-III of FIG. 1 is shown.

In FIG. 4 a section is represented corresponding to that at the lefthalf of FIG. 3. In this embodiment of the coupling member 12 it has aninner and outer diameter which do not differ much from the-diameter ofthe rim of the pot 3. According to this embodiment no central apertureis provided but the earth in the pot remains uncovered. Nevertheless anadequate coupling is effected between the cover 1 and the pot 3. Thecircular ring 12 which initially is clamped around the pot 3 causes, dueto its annular form, a sufficient rigidity of the wall parts l3, l4 and15. Since the ring 12 is made of a resilient material it may bedimensioned in such a way that it fits closely around the rims 4 and 2of the pot and the cover.

Analogous solutions are indicated in the FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, which areself explanatory. The coupling member 16, 17, 18 respectively, can beconstructed as a ring or rosette with a central opening allowing thegrowth.

In dependence on the embodiment of the container or pot the couplingmember l2, 16, 17 or 18 can be clamped on the rim of the pot before orafter planting the bulbous plants. In case this clamping is effectedduring the packing operation, which directly precedes dispatch, theelastical coupling member can also simultaneously with the cover 1 befixed on the pot 3. This is possible notably when a member 12 is usedwhich has no central opening.

As appears from the FIGS. 8 and 9 according to another embodiment thepot 3 has vertical ridges l9 and the coupling member 5 has on eitherside of the plate 20 of the rosette with central opening a rim edge 21,22 respectively. The lower rim edge 21 has on its underside an annularprotrusion 23, while the height of the edge 21 as measured unto' thisannular protrusion 23 is equal to the height of the vertical ridges 19.

The upper rim edge 22 has in the vicinity of its upper end adiscontinuous annular protrusion 24 which may cooperate with the cover1.

The annular protrusion 23 cooperates with the ridges 19 to create asnap-fit between the pot 3 and the coupling member 5. There is thusobtained a rotationally symmetrical coupling which is mechanicallyapplied to the pot.

What I claim is; a

l. A container assembly for flower bulbs, comprisa plastic pot adaptedto have at least one flower bulb disposed therein, saidpot having rimmeans provided adjacent the upper free edge thereof;

said rim means of said pot having. a plurality of spaced recesses formedtherein to thereby result in formation of a plurality of upwardlyextending lips having a stepped configuration;

a plastic coupling member securable to said pot adjacent the upper edgethereof for substantially closing said pot to retain said flower bulbtherein, said coupling member having central opening means therethroughfor permitting growth of said flower bulb;

said coupling member having first means disposed adjacent the peripherythereof for engagement with the rim means of said pot for creating asnapfit between said coupling member and said pot, whereby said couplingmember is securely but releasably connected to said pot adjacent theupper free edge thereof;

said first means comprising a plurality of slits formed in said couplingmember and disposed for coaction with the upstanding lips of said pot,whereby one of said pot and coupling member is flexed relative to theother to permit said upstanding lips to be inserted into'and throughsaid slits until the stepped configuration of said lips passessufiiciently through said slits to create a snap-fit between saidcoupling member and said pot;

a transparent plastic cover member adapted to be secured to saidcoupling member on the side thereof opposite said pot, said cover memberhaving a lower free edge defining a downwardly directed opening; and

said coupling member having second means disposed for engagement withthe lower free edge of said cover member for securely but releasablyconnecting said cover member to said coupling member.

2. A container according to claim I, wherein said coupling member has acentral wall portion extending across the open end of said pot andhaving said central opening formed therein, said slits being formed insaid central wall portion;

said second means including a flange fixedly secured to said centralwall portion and extending substantially transversely therefrom in adirection away from said pot, said flange being positioned adjacent tobut slightly spaced from said slits to define a narrow clearance spacebetween said flange and the upper free ends of said lips when the lipsare inserted through said slits; and

said cover member having the lower free edge thereof inserted into thenarrow clearance space between said flange and the upper free ends ofsaid lips, the lower free edge of said cover member being clampinglyengaged and held by'said flange and the upper ends of said lips.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member issubstantially annular and said second means includes an annular axiallyextending flange having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter ofsaid rim means;

said coupling member also having an annular central wall fixedly securedto and extending across said annular flange, said central wall havingsaid central opening means formed therethrough substantially at thecenter thereof;

said plurality of slits comprising elongated arcute slits formed in saidcentral wall, said slits being concentric with the longitudinallyextending axis of said pot and said coupling member, said slits beingdisposed adjacent but spaced slightly inwardly from said annular flangeand being adapted to permit the lip portions on said pot to be insertedtherethrough due to flexing of said coupling member relative to saidpot, whereby insertion of said lip portions through said slits causesthe upper stepped part of the lip portions to create a snap-fit betweensaid pot and said coupling member, the upper stepped part of saidarcuate lips being disposed closely adjacent but slightly spaced fromsand annular flange to create a narrow annular space therebetween; and

said cover member having an inverted cup-shape with the lower edge ofsaid cover member being substantially annular and being disposed withinthe narrow annular space defined between said annular flange and theupper stepped part of said lip portions, the lower annular edge of saidcover member being clampingly held between said annular flange and saidlip portions.

4. A container assembly for flower bulbs, comprisa plastic pot adaptedto have at least one flower bulb disposed therein, said pot having rimmeans provided adjacent the upper free edge thereof;

a plastic coupling member securable to said pot adjacent the upper edgethereof for substantially closing said pot to retain said flower bulbtherein, said coupling member having central opening means therethroughfor permitting growth of said flower bulb;

said coupling member including a central wall portion adapted to bedisposed across the open upper end of said pot, said central wallportion having said central opening means extending therethrough;

releasably connected to said pot adjacent the upper free edge thereof;

said first means comprising a first axially extending annular flangefixedly connected to said central wall portion and extending axiallyfrom one side thereof, said first annular flange being adapted to bedisposed in surrounding relationship to the upper edge of said pot andhaving an inwardly directed annular projection formed thereon adjacentthe lower edge thereof, and the rim means on the upper edge of said pothaving in the proximity of its upper free edge a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertical ridges projecting radially outwardlyof said pot, the vertical height of said ridges being substantiallyequal to the vertical spacing between said center wall portion and saidannular projection, whereby insertion of the upper edge of said pot intosaid first annular flange causes resilient deformation therebetween sothat said vertical ridges move past said annular projection and into thespace between said annular projection and said central wall for creatinga snap-fit between said pot and said coupling member;

a transparent plastic cover member adapted to be secured to saidcoupling member on the side thereof opposite said pot, said cover memberhaving a lower free edge defining a downwardly directed opening; and

said coupling member having second means disposed for engagement withthe lower free edge of said cover member for securely but releasablyconnecting said cover member to said coupling member;

said second means comprising a second annular flange fixedly secured tosaid central wall portion and projecting axially upwardly therefrom onthe side thereof opposite said first annular flange, said second annularflange having radially inwardly directed annular protrusion meansdisposed for engagement with the lower edge of said cover member whenthe lower edge of said cover member is forcible inserted into saidsecond annular flange, the lower free edge of said cover member beingdisposed substantially in abutting engagement with said central wallportion.

5. A container assembly for flower bulbs, comprisa plastic pot adaptedto have at least one flower bulb disposed therein, said pot having rimmeans provided adjacent the upper free edge thereof;

a plastic coupling member securable to said pot adjacent the upper edgethereof for substantially closing said pot to retain said flower bulbtherein, said coupling member having central opening means therethroughfor permitting growth of said flower bulb;

said coupling member including a central wall portion adapted to extendacross and substantially close the upper open end of said pot, saidcentral wall portion having said central opening means extendingtherethrough;

first means coacting between the periphery of said coupling member andthe rim means of said pot for creating a snap-fit therebetween, wherebysaid coupling member is securely but releasably connected to said potadjacent the upper free edge thereof;

said first means including an annular flange fixedly secured to saidcentral wall portion and extending axially therefrom in a directiontoward said pot, said annular flange having an internal diameterpermitting said annular flange to be disposed in surroundingrelationship to the upper edge of said P said first means also includinga projecting annular rib fixedly secured to one of said annular flangeand rim means and projecting toward the other of said annular flange andrim means, and a plurality of spaced projections fixedly secured to theother of said annular flange and rim means and projecting toward saidone annular flange and rim means, said annular rib or projections asfixedly secured to said annular flange being disposed downwardly fromsaid central wall portion to create a space therebetween adapted toreceive therein the other of said annular rib and projections to createa snap-fit between said coupling member and said P a transparent plasticcover member adapted to be secured to said coupling member on the sidethereof opposite said pot, said cover member having a lower free edgedefining a downwardly directed opening; and

said coupling member having second means disposed for engagement withthe lower free edge of said cover member for securely but releasablyconnecting said cover member to said coupling member.

6. A container assembly for permitting storing,

shipping and growing of flower bulbs, comprising:

an upwardly opening cup-shaped plastic pot adapted to have at least oneflower bulb disposed therein, said pot having annular rim means adjacentthe upper free edge thereof and defining an upwardly directed opening;

an annular plastic coupling member securable to said pot adjacent theupper edge thereof for substantially closing said pot to retain saidflower bulb therein, said coupling member having a central wall portionadapted to extend across and substantially close the upper end of saidpot, said central wall portion having a central opening therethrough forpermitting growth of said flower bulb;

said coupling member further having a ringlike annular flange fixedlysecured to and surrounding said central wall portion and extendingaxially downwardly therefrom in a direction toward said pot;

cooperating means including opposed and coacting first and secondprotrusion means on said rim means and said annular flange,respectively, for

creating a snap-fit between said coupling member and said pot, wherebysaid coupling member is securely but releasably connected to said potadjacent the upper free edge thereof;

a transparent plastic cover member adapted to be secured to saidcoupling member on the side thereof opposite said pot, said cover membercomprising a vertically elongated, inverted, cupshaped member having alower free edge defining a downwardly directed opening; and

said cover member having a cross-sectional size and configurationadjacent the open end thereof similar to the cross-sectional size andconfiguration of the pot ad acent its open end, said cover member alsohaving vent opening means extending through the wall thereof; saidcoupling member having connecting means disposed for engagement with thelower free edge of said cover member for securely but releasablyconnecting said cover member to said coupling member. 7. A containerassembly according to claim 6, wherein said annular flange is adapted tobe disposed in surrounding relationship to the rim means on the upperend of said pot and has said second protrusion means formed thereon andspaced axially downwardly from said central wall-portion, said secondprotrusion means projecting radially inwardly of said annular flange;and

said rim means having said first protrusion means formed thereon andradially outwardly directed directly adjacent the upper free edge ofsaid pot, said first protrusion means being adapted to be disposedwithin said second annular flange in the axial space between saidcentral wall portion and said second protrusion means for creating asnapfit between said coupling member and said pot;

one of said first and second protrusion means comprising a substantiallycontinuous ringlike element, the other of said first and secondprotrusion means comprising a plurality of separated portions which areangularly spaced from one another.

8. A container assembly according to claim 7, wherein said connectingmeans comprises a second annular flange fixedly secured to andsurrounding said central wall portion and extending upwardly therefromin a direction away from said pot, said second annular flange having aplurality of angular spaced, radially inwardly directed protrusion meansdisposed for engagement with the lower edge of said cover when saidcover memberedge is forceably inserted into said second annular flange,the lower free edge of said cover member being disposed substantially inabutting engagement with said central wall portion.

1. A container assembly for flower bulbs, comprising: a plastic potadapted to have at least one flower bulb disposed therein, said pothaving rim means provided adjacent the upper free edge thereof; said rimmeans of said pot having a plurality of spaced recesses formed thereinto thereby result in formation of a plurality of upwardly extending lipshaving a stepped configuration; a plastic coupling member securable tosaid pot adjacent the upper edge thereof for substantially closing saidpot to retain said flower bulb therein, said coupling member havingcentral opening means therethrough for permitting growth of said flowerbulb; said coupling member having first means disposed adjacent theperiphery thereof for engagement with the rim means of said pot forcreating a snap-fit between said coupling member and said pot, wherebysaid coupling member is securely but releasably connected to said potadjacent the upper free edge thereof; said first means comprising aplurality of slits formed in said coupling member and disposed forcoaction with the upstanding lips of said pot, whereby one of said potand coupling member is flexed relative to the other to permit saidupstanding lips to be inserted into and through said slits until thestepped configuration of said lips passes sufficiently through saidslits to create a snap-fit between said coupling member and said pot; atransparent plastic cover member adapted to be secured to said couplingmember on the side thereof opposite said pot, said cover member having alower free edge defining a downwardly directed opening; and saidcoupling member having second means disposed for engagement with thelower free edge of said cover member for securely but releasablyconnecting said cover member to said coupling member.
 2. A containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said coupling member has a central wallportion extending across the open end of said pot and having saidcentral opening formed therein, said slits being formed in said centralwall portion; said second means including a flange fixedly secured tosaid central wall portion and extending substantially transverselytherefrom in a direction away from said pot, said flange beingpositioned adjacent to but slightly spaced from said slits to define anarrow clearance space between said flange and the upper free ends ofsaid lips when the lips are inserted through said slits; and said covermember having the lower free edge thereof inserted into the narrowclearance space between said flange and the upper free ends of saidlips, the lower free edge of said cover member being clampingly engagedand held by said flange and the upper ends of said lips.
 3. A containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is substantiallyannular and said second means includes an annular axially extendingflange having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said rimmeans; said coupling member also having an annular central wall fixedlysecured to and extending across said annular flange, said central wallhaving said central opening means formed therethrough substantially atthe center thereof; said plurality of slits comprising elongated arcuteslits formed in said central wall, said slits being concentric with thelongitudinally extending axis of said pot and said coupling member, saidslits being disposed adjacent but spaced slightly inwardly from saidannular flange and being adapted to permit the lip portions on said potto be inserted therethrough due to flexing of said coupling memberrelative to said pot, whereby insertion of said lip portions throughsaid slits causes the upper stepped part of the lip portions to create asnap-fit between said pot and said coupling member, the upper steppedpart of said arcuate lips being disposed closely adjacent but slightlyspaced from sand annular Flange to create a narrow annular spacetherebetween; and said cover member having an inverted cup-shape withthe lower edge of said cover member being substantially annular andbeing disposed within the narrow annular space defined between saidannular flange and the upper stepped part of said lip portions, thelower annular edge of said cover member being clampingly held betweensaid annular flange and said lip portions.
 4. A container assembly forflower bulbs, comprising: a plastic pot adapted to have at least oneflower bulb disposed therein, said pot having rim means providedadjacent the upper free edge thereof; a plastic coupling membersecurable to said pot adjacent the upper edge thereof for substantiallyclosing said pot to retain said flower bulb therein, said couplingmember having central opening means therethrough for permitting growthof said flower bulb; said coupling member including a central wallportion adapted to be disposed across the open upper end of said pot,said central wall portion having said central opening means extendingtherethrough; said coupling member having first means disposed adjacentthe periphery thereof for engagement with the rim means of said pot forcreating a snap-fit between said coupling member and said pot, wherebysaid coupling member is securely but releasably connected to said potadjacent the upper free edge thereof; said first means comprising afirst axially extending annular flange fixedly connected to said centralwall portion and extending axially from one side thereof, said firstannular flange being adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationshipto the upper edge of said pot and having an inwardly directed annularprojection formed thereon adjacent the lower edge thereof, and the rimmeans on the upper edge of said pot having in the proximity of its upperfree edge a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical ridgesprojecting radially outwardly of said pot, the vertical height of saidridges being substantially equal to the vertical spacing between saidcenter wall portion and said annular projection, whereby insertion ofthe upper edge of said pot into said first annular flange causesresilient deformation therebetween so that said vertical ridges movepast said annular projection and into the space between said annularprojection and said central wall for creating a snap-fit between saidpot and said coupling member; a transparent plastic cover member adaptedto be secured to said coupling member on the side thereof opposite saidpot, said cover member having a lower free edge defining a downwardlydirected opening; and said coupling member having second means disposedfor engagement with the lower free edge of said cover member forsecurely but releasably connecting said cover member to said couplingmember; said second means comprising a second annular flange fixedlysecured to said central wall portion and projecting axially upwardlytherefrom on the side thereof opposite said first annular flange, saidsecond annular flange having radially inwardly directed annularprotrusion means disposed for engagement with the lower edge of saidcover member when the lower edge of said cover member is forcibleinserted into said second annular flange, the lower free edge of saidcover member being disposed substantially in abutting engagement withsaid central wall portion.
 5. A container assembly for flower bulbs,comprising: a plastic pot adapted to have at least one flower bulbdisposed therein, said pot having rim means provided adjacent the upperfree edge thereof; a plastic coupling member securable to said potadjacent the upper edge thereof for substantially closing said pot toretain said flower bulb therein, said coupling member having centralopening means therethrough for permitting growth of said flower bulb;said coupling member including a central wall portion adapted to extendacross and substantially close the upper open end of said pot, Saidcentral wall portion having said central opening means extendingtherethrough; first means coacting between the periphery of saidcoupling member and the rim means of said pot for creating a snap-fittherebetween, whereby said coupling member is securely but releasablyconnected to said pot adjacent the upper free edge thereof; said firstmeans including an annular flange fixedly secured to said central wallportion and extending axially therefrom in a direction toward said pot,said annular flange having an internal diameter permitting said annularflange to be disposed in surrounding relationship to the upper edge ofsaid pot; said first means also including a projecting annular ribfixedly secured to one of said annular flange and rim means andprojecting toward the other of said annular flange and rim means, and aplurality of spaced projections fixedly secured to the other of saidannular flange and rim means and projecting toward said one annularflange and rim means, said annular rib or projections as fixedly securedto said annular flange being disposed downwardly from said central wallportion to create a space therebetween adapted to receive therein theother of said annular rib and projections to create a snap-fit betweensaid coupling member and said pot; a transparent plastic cover memberadapted to be secured to said coupling member on the side thereofopposite said pot, said cover member having a lower free edge defining adownwardly directed opening; and said coupling member having secondmeans disposed for engagement with the lower free edge of said covermember for securely but releasably connecting said cover member to saidcoupling member.
 6. A container assembly for permitting storing,shipping and growing of flower bulbs, comprising: an upwardly openingcup-shaped plastic pot adapted to have at least one flower bulb disposedtherein, said pot having annular rim means adjacent the upper free edgethereof and defining an upwardly directed opening; an annular plasticcoupling member securable to said pot adjacent the upper edge thereoffor substantially closing said pot to retain said flower bulb therein,said coupling member having a central wall portion adapted to extendacross and substantially close the upper end of said pot, said centralwall portion having a central opening therethrough for permitting growthof said flower bulb; said coupling member further having a ringlikeannular flange fixedly secured to and surrounding said central wallportion and extending axially downwardly therefrom in a direction towardsaid pot; cooperating means including opposed and coacting first andsecond protrusion means on said rim means and said annular flange,respectively, for creating a snap-fit between said coupling member andsaid pot, whereby said coupling member is securely but releasablyconnected to said pot adjacent the upper free edge thereof; atransparent plastic cover member adapted to be secured to said couplingmember on the side thereof opposite said pot, said cover membercomprising a vertically elongated, inverted, cup-shaped member having alower free edge defining a downwardly directed opening; and said covermember having a cross-sectional size and configuration adjacent the openend thereof similar to the cross-sectional size and configuration of thepot adjacent its open end, said cover member also having vent openingmeans extending through the wall thereof; said coupling member havingconnecting means disposed for engagement with the lower free edge ofsaid cover member for securely but releasably connecting said covermember to said coupling member.
 7. A container assembly according toclaim 6, wherein said annular flange is adapted to be disposed insurrounding relationship to the rim means on the upper end of said potand has said second protrusion means formed thereon and spaced axiallydownwardly from said central wall portion, said second protrusion meansprojectiNg radially inwardly of said annular flange; and said rim meanshaving said first protrusion means formed thereon and radially outwardlydirected directly adjacent the upper free edge of said pot, said firstprotrusion means being adapted to be disposed within said second annularflange in the axial space between said central wall portion and saidsecond protrusion means for creating a snap-fit between said couplingmember and said pot; one of said first and second protrusion meanscomprising a substantially continuous ringlike element, the other ofsaid first and second protrusion means comprising a plurality ofseparated portions which are angularly spaced from one another.
 8. Acontainer assembly according to claim 7, wherein said connecting meanscomprises a second annular flange fixedly secured to and surroundingsaid central wall portion and extending upwardly therefrom in adirection away from said pot, said second annular flange having aplurality of angular spaced, radially inwardly directed protrusion meansdisposed for engagement with the lower edge of said cover when saidcover member edge is forceably inserted into said second annular flange,the lower free edge of said cover member being disposed substantially inabutting engagement with said central wall portion.